Spacer for printing-plate holders or beds.



G. F. ROGKSTROHQ SPACER FOB. PRINTING PLATE HOLDERS 0R BEDS.

APPLICATION l rLnb DBO. a1, 1906.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ASHINOTON, D.c.

G. P. BOGKSTROH. SPAOER FOR PRINTING PLATE HOLDERS 0R BEDS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, 1906.

910,317. Patented Jan. 19, 1909;

L Y I l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTFD STATFS PATENT FFTQE.

CHARLES F. ROOKSTROH, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROCKSTROH MANUFACTURING 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF. NEW JERSEY.

SPAGER FOR PRINTING-PLATE HOLDERS OR BEDS.

Application filed December 31, 1906.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented. Jan. 19, 1909.

Serial No. 350,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. Roonsrnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond Hill, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Spacers for Printing-Plate Holders or Beds, of which the following is a specification.

Printing plates have heretofore been secured to a slotted bed or foundation for use in electrotype, stereotype and other printing processes and in connection with these securing devices spacers or spacing blocks have been employed to determine the relation of the printing lates to one another and to hold edges the printing plates to the bed, avoiding the necessity of multiplying the aforesaid securing de vices. These securing or clamping devices are let down into the grooves of the slotted bed or foundation and they are provided with means for engaging the grooves of the bed to prevent the accidental dis lacement thereof, and at the same time t at these securing or clamping devices are let down into the grooves of the bed, the spacing devices have also been placed down into the slots engaging the same. Devices of this character are shown and described in Letters Patent No. 811,328, granted 'to me January 30, 1906.

My present invention relates to a novel form of spacer or spacing block to be let down into the grooves of the slotted bed or foundation andautomatically to engage the undercut or shouldered grooves of the said bed and said device is to be lifted up out of said bed in a manner the reverse of its introduction therein.

In carrying out my invention, my improved spacer or spacing block comprises an elongated narrow body to fit down into the slot or groove of said bed or foundation, a transverse jaw coming above the bed for separating and preferably for engaging one or more edges of the adjacent printing plates to maintain the same at the desired distance apart and to hold the same to the slotted bed or foundation along the edge engaged by said spacer. The transverse jaw I prefer to place centrally in the length of the spacing device and in connection with these parts of the spacer I employ a tumbler device adapted to engage the groove of the said slotted bed or foundation.

This tumbler is preferably spring actuated so as to automatically engage the groove which is advantageously shouldered to receive the tumbler, and I prefer to employ oppositely placed spring actuated tumblers which are loosely mounted upon the body of the spacer and adapted upon the introduction of the spacer into the groove of the bed to spring out automatically against and into the undercut or shouldered parts of the groove of said bed to hold the spacer down to place and prevent accidental displacement.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan in full size representing a part of a bed or printing plate foundation with a printing plate 1n position secured thereto by clamping devices and part of an adjacent printing plate between which is illustrated the spacing block, Fig. 2 is a similar plan on a smaller scale representing a number of different sized printing plates secured to the foundation or support by clamping devices, and the forms of spacer hereinafter described, and which constitute the device of my invention. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through my improved spacing device through the slotted bed and the printing plates separated by the spacer, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my improved spacing device showing a form of my invention, Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4., Fig. 6 is is a plan view of the spacing device shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is avertical cross section at tax, of Fig. 4, Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 6 showing a form of my invention, Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section at y, 2 Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig. 11 a plan representing an auxiliary spacer. Fig. 12 is a partial section similar to a part of Fig. 3, showing a modification in the jaw of the clamping device and a thin spacer locked thereto, and Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the application of the device of my improvement to printing plates having undercut edge grooves.

(t represents a bed or foundation adapted to hold printing plates in electrotype, stereotype or other printing processes. These beds are shown with printing plates in position securely held by suitable clamping devices to the beds as in my said patent No. 811,328, dated January 30, 1906. In these beds or foundations there are series of slots or grooves 2 that are parallel to one another, and other series of slots or grooves 3 which are. parallel to one another and which latter series run at right angles to the former series of slots or grooves 2, providing intervening squares 0. also as shown and described in said patent. The slots or grooves are one picawide and the intervening squares three picas across in either direction. The walls of the slots of the said series are provided with opposite downwardly converging portions 4 5 that are undercut or shouldered as shown especially in Fig. 5, and these are also the same as shown in the patents heretofore granted to me. I) 6 represent electrotype, stereotype or other printing plates in position on these beds and 1) represents suitable clamping devices also as shown in my aforesaid patent and other patents heretofore granted to me.

The special feature of my present invention comprises a spacing block adapted to be let down into the grooves of the'bed or foundation and having a jaw adapted to come between the two printing plates. This comprises the elongated narrow body portion 0 which may be of any suitable or desired length, the width however is governed by the width of the slots of the series 2 3 so that the body portion can be placed. down into a slot and removed by lifting vertically therefrom. In side elevation this body portion is of staggered outline with shoulders at 6 6, at 7 7 and at 8 8, respec-' tively, on the opposite sides of the vertical central line and at the highest point said body portion is provided with a transverse jaw 0 the under surface of which comes immediately above the surface of the bed or foundation when the spacing block is let down into the groove.

In my improvement d d represent tumblers of a width corresponding with the width of the body 0 and fixed in alinement therewith upon a horizontal shaft j" which passes centrally through the body portion at a suitable point in the height thereof; the height of the body portion agreeing substantially with the depth of a slot or groove of the bed. These tumblers are provided with an off-set edge conforming to the off-set shouldered edge of the body portion at opposite sides of the central line, and the tumblers are set in opposition and are secured to this shaft f. The shaft is free to turn in the body portion through which it passes, consequently when one tumbler turns with the shaft the other also turns, and I provide a spring 6 in the form of a wire let into the body portion below the shaft with its projecting end engaging an undercut recess of the tumbler d, the

function of the spring being to move this I together in one direction, so that both tumblers are normally swung to one side. The depth of the tumblers is such that in swinging to one side the advancing upper corner comes underneath the shouldered portions of the walls of the bed or foundation as shown in Fig. 5, thus engaging said shouldered portion. and in so doing, locking the spacing device down in the groove of the bed so that the same cannot be lifted out of the groove until the tumblers are swung so that their opposite side walls aline with the walls of the groove or slot. These tumblers act automatically as the spacer is forced down into the groove, it being necessary to turn the tumblers into alinement with the body portion in order to lift the spacing block out of the groove of the bed or foundation.

The jaw c of my improved spacing block is adapted to come between adjacent edges of two printing plates and I have shown forms of my invention with special reference to this jaw, that is to say, the jaw may he provided with opposite parallel faces as shown in Fig. 4 and simply act between adjacent edges of two spacing blocks to separate the same. It is however, preferable that the opposite faces of the jaw c be upwardly beveled or flared as shown in Figs. 2, 3, l2 and 13, so as to extend over or overlap the inclined or tapering edges of the printin blocks, thus not only separating the printing blocks the desired distance from one another according to the thickness of the jaw or the jaw and the auxiliary spacing block combined, but so as to hold down the printing blocks at the edges engaged by the jaw so as to maintain their relation to the bed or foundation with equal effect with the jaws of the clamping devices I). This latter is the preferred form of my invention and the most effective.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, I have shown forms of my invention, that is to say, in the form Figs. 8 and 9 the body 0 of the spacing block adjacent to the jaw is solid and the jaw may be of any desired width, (the length being substantially a predetermined factor). In fact it is preferable to make these spacing blocks with jaws of different widths thus increasing the range of their usefulness.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the central portion of the body 0 adjacent to, at each side of and below the transverse jaw c is removed or hollowed out so as to provide the side walls i i and in connection with this form of my invention, I employ auxiliary spacers 9 shown separately in Figs. 10 and 11. These auxiliary spacers have parallel fiat faces adapted to lie up flat against either parallel vertical face of the jaw c or either inclined face of the jaw c as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 12. A

tumbler, the shaft and the second tumbler i tang is formed as a downward-prolongation of the parallel fiat faces of the auxiliary spacers and the tang is adapted to pass down below the face of the grooved bed a 'of the auxiliary spacer, the projection entering the recess 16 and together with the tang fixing the position of the auxiliary spacer with regard to the jaw. I prefer to make these auxiliary spacers g of varying thicknesses and they are adapted for use against either side of the jaw c or the jaw 0 and in some instances they would be used against one side and in other instances against the other side, and possibly where the jaw c or the jaw c is too narrow said auxiliary spacers would be used against both sides in an efiort to fill out the gap existing between two printing plates whose position shall be determined upon the slotted bed or foundation.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the auxiliary spacer g is shown as of relatively thin material, the upper ortion and tang thereof being in the same p ane. This spacer is shown in section in Fig. 12 and in position with its projection 17 in the recess 16 of the jaw 0 the pressure of use in this case bending the relatively thin auxiliary spacer so that the tang thereof as well as the face conform to the obtuse angle produced by the inclined face of the jaw c and the vertical face of the body portion thereof between the walls "5 Z.

In Fig. 3 the auxiliary spacer g is of relatively heavier or thicker material too thick to bend notwithstanding such pressure as would be a plied in its use, therefore the tang is beve ed toward its lower end in the form of a wedge so that each face produces an obtuse angle to correspond in its juxtaposed relation with either face of the jaw 0 so that the same inclination is given to the face of the auxiliary spacer in this instance as the inclination of the jaw.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a number of correlated printing plates upon a bed with jaws 0 between the printing plates 3) b and one printing plate 5 and a printing plate 5 also between the printing plates Z2 and adjacent printing plates 1), said jaws being of different widths. I have also shown between the rinting plates 1) jaws c with narrow auxi iary spacers g on one side and also jaws c with auxiliary spacers on opposite sides so as to illustrate the varied applications of the devices of my invention.

I have illustrated a form of my invention in Figs. 2 and 13, in which the edges of the printing plates that come to juxtaposition or abutment are not tapered but are made at right angles to the faces, said edges'being undercut so as to receive the jaw c of the spacing device, which jaw is of wedge form in section adapted to enter the opposite grooves at 0 posite sides and to hold the plates at their edges to the bed and to permit their edges to come almost into contact. The plates thus made are necessary for occasional use in this art.

While I have shown the body and transverse aw as formed in one it is obvious that the said jaw maybe a separate piece connected to the body in any desired manner.

I do not limit myself to the shape of the jaw c and I further do not limit myself to the shape of the auxiliary s acers g nor to the means for determining t eir relation to the aw, and I do not liinit'myself to the use of one spring a with two tumblers fixed on the shaft f, as this point may be modified and changed and still be within the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spacer for a grooved foundation or bed for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down at any place into a groove, a transverse jaw coming above the foundation and adapted to come between the printing plates and engage adj acent edges of two plates, and tumbler devices mounted upon said body portion at each side of the jaw and adapted to engage said groove to hold the spacer to the bed and prevent accidental separation.

2. A spacer for a grooved foundation for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove, a transverse aw coming above the foundation and adapted to come between the printing plates and engage adjacent edges of two plates, and separate devices at either end of the body 1portion adapted to enga e the groove of t e bed to hold the spacer thereto and a suitable support upon which said devices are mounted.

3. A spacer for a grooved foundation for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove, a transverse jaw coming above the foundation and adapted to come between the printing plates and engage adjacent edges 'of two plates, and tumbler devices at either end of the body portion adapted to engage the groove of the bed to hold the spacer thereto and a suitable support upon which said tum bler devices are mounted.

4:. A spacer for a grooved foundation or bed for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove, a transverse jaw formed therewith and coming above the foundation and adapted to come between printing plates, a shaft passing longitudinally through the body portion and free to turn therein, and devices at either end of the body portion mounted upon said shaft and secured thereto andv adapted to turn therewith and in turning to engage said grooves to hold the spacer to the bed.

5. A spacer for a grooved foundation or bed for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove, a transverse jaw formed therewith and coming above the foundation and adapt ed to come between printing plates, a shaft passing longitudinally through the body portion and free to turn therein, and tumbler devices at either end of the body portion mounted upon said shaft and secured thereto and adapted to turn therewith and in turning to engage said grooves to hold the spacer to the bed.

6. A spacer for a grooved foundation or bed for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove, a transverse jaw formed therewith and coming above the foundation and adapted to come between printing plates, a shaft passing longitudinally through the body portion and free to turn therein, tumbler devices at either end of the body portion mounted upon said shaft and secured thereto and adapted to turn therewith and in turning to engage said grooves to hold the spacer to the bed and a spring with one end secured to the body portion and the other free end adapted to engage a recess in the under ed e of one of said tumblers to simultaneousy turn both tumblers, and the shaft on which they are mounted.

7. A spacer for a grooved foundation or bed for printing plates comprising a body portion of elongated configuration with offset or shouldered portions and adapted to be passed down into a groove of said bed, a transverse jaw formed with the body portion at the center thereof and coming above the foundation and adapted to come between the printing plates, a shaft passing about centrally of the height of the body portion and longitudinally thereof, tumbler devices having ofi-set shouldered portions to agree with the shouldered portions of the body of the spacer and set in opposition to one another at the respective ends of the body portion and mounted upon said shaft in a fixed relation adapted to turn therewith in the body portion and a spring engaging one of said tumblers so as to turn both tumblers and the shaft toward one side of the body portion and engage a groove of the bed to lock the spacer down into the foundation.

8. A spacing device for spacing printing plates, comprising a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove in the foundation or bed supporting said plates, with a transverse jaw coming above the surface of the foundation or bed. and adapted to come between the printing plates, devices mounted upon said body portion and adapted to engage the groove of the bed to hold the 65. spacer to the bed, an auxiliary spacer adapted to lie up against a face of the transverse jaw of the spacer and having a tang adapted to pass down into the groove in the bed below the surface thereof.

9. In a device for spacing printing plates upon a grooved foundation or bed, and in combination, a spacer having a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove in the said foundation and a transverse jaw to said body portion coming above the foundation or bed and adapted to come between the printing plates, the said body portion adjacent to the transverse jaw hollowed out so as to provide side walls, devices mounted upon said body portion and adapted to engage the so walls of the roove of said bed to hold the spacer to the bed, an auxiliary spacer adapted to lie up against a face of the said transverse jaw and having a tang adapted to pass down between the side walls into the hollowed portion of the spacer body.

10. In a device for spacing printing plates upon a grooved foundation or bed, and in combination, a spacer having a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove in the said foundation or bed, devices mounted upon said body or'tion and adapted to engage the walls 0 the groove of the bed to hold the spacer to the bed, a transverse jaw placed centrally of the body portion and coming above the surface of the foundation or bed and adapted to come between the printing plates, said body portion at each side of said transverse jaw being hollowed out to provide side walls, an auxiliary spacer adapted to lie up against either face of the transverse jaw of the spacer and having a tang adapted to pass down between the walls of the hollowed out body portions of the spacer, a projection on one face of the auxiliary spacer and a recess in the juxtaposed surface of the transverse jaw adapted to be engaged by the projection.

11. In a device for spacing printing plates upon a grooved foundation or bed, and in combination, a spacer having a body portion adapted to be passed down into a groove in the said foundation or bed, a transverse jaw to said body portion coming above the foundation or bed and adapted to come between the printing plates, the said body portion adjacent to the transverse jaw hollowed out so as to provide side walls, an auxiliary spacer adapted to lie up against either face of the transverse jaw of the spacer and having a tang adapted to pass down between the walls of the hollowed out body portions of the spacer, a projection on one face of the auxiliary spacer and a recess in the juxtaposed surface of the transverse jaw adapted to be engaged by the projection.

12. A spacer for a grooved foundation or bed for printing plates comprising a body portion adaptedto be passed down at any place into a groove, a transverse jaw coming above the foundation and adapted to come between the printing plates and to engage ad jacent edges of two plates, and spring actuated tumbler devices mounted upon said body portion at each side of the jaw and adapted to automatically engage said groove and hold the spacer to the bed and prevent accidental separation.

13. A spacer for a grooved foundation for printing plates comprising a body portion adapted to be placed down into a groove, a transverse jaw coming above the foundation and adapted to come between the printing plates and to engage adjacent edges of two plates, spring actuated tumbler devices at 15 end of the body portion adapted to automatically engage the groove of the bed to hold the spacer thereto and a suitable support upon which the said tumbler devices are mounted.

Signed by me this sixth day of December 20 1906.

CHAS. F. ROOKSTROH.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINOKNEY, E. ZACHARIASEN. 

